School Finance: Charter Schools

Memorandum

In accordance with M.G.L. c. 71, § 89, each Massachusetts Charter School shall have its independent audit filed annually on or before January first following the fiscal year end. In addition, as described in the Massachusetts Charter School Audit Guide, June 2005 (finance1.doe.mass.edu/charter/charter_audit.html), charter schools are required to electronically file the FY2008 Charter School End of Year Financial Report (08CSEOYFR).

We are aware of the administrative burdens placed on schools and are always looking for ways to ease that burden while continuing to get the data we need. Now that EPIMS educator data collection is required, we have eliminated the collection of FTE data for personnel. This and other changes are detailed in the instructions contained with the 08CSEOYFR file for each charter school, which is available for download in the Charter School File Exchange Drop Box Outbox in the ESE Security Portal.

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and I take the accountability requirements of the Education Reform Act seriously. Our ability to assess progress toward reaching the goals to reform depends on accurate and timely data collection and reporting. We must be able to rely on the data you report in order to administer Chapter 70 and other state and federal funding programs in a timely manner. Please ensure that your charter school's complete FY08 audit package, including the 08CSEOYFR file, is submitted no later than January 1, 2009; this is a statutory deadline which cannot be extended. Complete submission details are outlined below:

Electronic submission to Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, via the Charter School File Exchange Drop Box in the ESE Security Portal (Instructions :  )

• One (1) electronic copy of the completed audit report (including management letter, if applicable) in PDF format.

• One (1) electronic copy of the FY08 Charter School End of Year Financial Report

Hard Copy submission to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, mail to:

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education - Charter School Office
75 Pleasant Street
Malden, MA 02148-4906
Attention: Coordinator of Research & Finance

• One (1) bound copy of the complete audit package, including management letter and signed    Board Acceptance Letter.

• One (1) signed 08CSEOYFR Certification Statement.

Electronic submission to the Office of the State Auditor, email to Anthony.Rufo@SAO.state.ma.us:

• One (1)

  electronic copy of the completed audit report (including management letter, if applicable) in PDF format.

As a reminder, single audits, if applicable, performed in accordance with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-133 must also be filed with the Federal Audit Clearinghouse. Please refer to OMB Circular A-133 for the federal filing requirements.

If you anticipate or experience problems with timely, accurate completion of your audit report or 08CSEOYFR fiile, please contact Cliff Chuang of the Charter School Office at 781-338-3228 or cchuang@doe.mass.edu. Thank you for your cooperation and assistance in providing this very important financial data.